Jones County NcArchives Court.....Coats - Assault, Joseph 1791 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Jo Huettl johit@suddenlink.net November 3, 2009, 6:14 pm Source: Nc Archives & History Written: 1791 (Copy of document from Jones County miscellaneous records - Folder name Supreme Ct. Misc) found at the NC State Archives) To the vice President and Council of Councilers and Judges, Magistrates and others such as Inferior officers for the thirteen united states or parted lands in America Written the 2nd of July 1791 Greeting for Justice On the twenty fifth of June one thousand seven hundred ninety one I went to a mans house called Major Whitte beign informed after a Complaint to Gilbert Gray concerning some evil treatment I had received from the following people to a Ezekiel Clifton Mr. Crutchfield and Charles Stevenson all of Jones County north Carolina that a Major Whitte would do My businefs for me. I with a young man which I suppose was Gilbert Gray's son went to the above written. Major Whitte he was not then at home and beign asked by his wife if I had businefs with Major Whitte I answered yes or yea meaning I had. She then roughly entertained me until Whitte come to the house where I took notice he presented the old woman and I suppose a young one or two with a broad ribbon with three or four nots on it after that or before that I comuned or unclosed my businefs to him. He without the least insult from me bid me abruptly be gone I not beign willing after going so far for I firmly believe it is not leff than ten miles from Gray to Whitte. I then without abuse or affront from me he the said Major Whitte knocked me down with a blow that struck me senfeleff for a little while and when I went from his house he followed me with an open pinknife. I turn about and told him I had a penknife as well as he then I stuck my knife in the ground. He then return towards me with a large stick and my back being towards him he struck me on the head naked as I was without weapon offensive or defensive he then asked me to the house again where he with a cloak of friendship detained me until evening when some well known enmeies of mine met at the same house the same afternoon and evening they then upbrasded me and tied my wrests with cords and loosed them they again upbraded me and it is hard to put up evil treatment with close lips on a man whom they named taylor and another villain whose name I will not mention here bound me acrofs the wrests behind my back and there I remainined until the next day when they sent me to newburn with cords on my wrests with what they call a mittimes or a commitance to put me in newburn jail. They, I mean the two men that they sent with me refused to unloose me on the road altho I promised to go with them to Bryans where Bryan read the Mittims. Thought it not suffecient and had me loosed the nesct morning I went to Bryans house with still an intent to pursue for for my right of a Debt that Ezekiel Clifton owes me to this day which is forty seven pounds four shillings and two pence of the State money pafsing current in the state of North Carolina. Charles Stevensons debt is to me one pound siscteen shilling a namely the name of William Bryan owes me thirty nine pounds nine shillings and four shillings and eleven pence more of this State coin or currency which he has denied to pay which I hope the vice President and Council or Councilers and Judges Magistrates and others such as Inferior Officers of the thirteen united States or parted Lands in America. Will take in hands for me as I have been refused Justice from every man. I have opened my Cause in Newburn and otherwise in the Country round about. In the name _ _ _ _ _ _ (filled in above written large Jesus + Christ) I for Justice against Major Whitte (signed) Joseph Coats Whereas I have been a resider or risedent on in and from America these eight years past and have been at Sundry times treated by the riff raff People and please to take notice how people that has me right to preach the Gospel uses their neibours and I thinck has no time nor ought to have any to be before any court of Equity. I mean Mr Whitte for I myself swear he deserves to be hung to and there die by the neck on a publick gallows. (signed) Joseph Cots (This is on the back of the document) To the Chief Justice and Council or Court of Justicerer 4/8 At New York In North Carolina (signed) Joseph Coats Greetings for Justice (This is written beside the above) People that I believe saw my Wounds and ought to be at the Trial of mauger Whitte and Sisc other Malefactors - - - John Williams: Saw my wounds Edward Pasteur Saw my wounds William or a man by the name of Edward Harris William ryan Captain Newman saw my blody Cloaths and hat George Miller Saw my wounds Council Bryan Of NewBurn saw me bound Mr heaths family saw my wounds Docto Macleur saw my wounds File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/jones/court/coatsass1206wl.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ncfiles/ File size: 5.3 Kb